Distribution aiding method, distribution aiding server, recording medium, distribution aiding program, and dealer terminal

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a distribution aiding system, a distribution aiding server, a distribution aiding method, and a distribution aiding program capable of selling articles without individual trading conditions being known to a maker, other users or other dealers, and is so configurated that a user retrieves or selects a necessary article, the user registers order information according to the selected article, and a dealer in charge of the user registers order-acceptance condition information to be added to the order information, and notifies the user of the order-acceptance condition information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a distribution aiding method, adistribution aiding server, a recording medium, a distribution aidingprogram, and a dealer terminal, and more particularly, to a distributionaiding method, a distribution aiding server, a recording medium, adistribution aiding program, and a dealer terminal for aiding sales ofarticles via a network.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, online shopping, in which sales of articles(commodities) are conducted on the Internet, has become widespread. Insuch online shopping, a user purchasing an article and a maker producingand selling the article conduct electronic commerce directly with eachother; therefore, dealers, such as a general retail store or a specialagent, cannot participate in the sales activities.

[0003] One of the systems known as having been developed inconsideration of such an inconvenience is a distribution aiding systemin which users garnered as customers by each dealer through salesactivities are treated as members, and the dealer trades with the usersby user terminals used by the members and a server installed by a makerand provided with a virtual dealer sales function.

[0004] Individual trading conditions, which each dealer determines withindividual users through business negotiation activities, are registeredbeforehand in this distribution aiding system. Accordingly, uponreceiving order-acceptance information from a user, the distributionaiding system automatically calculates a charge and a margin for thedealer according to an individual trading condition corresponding to theuser, and delivers according to a predetermined individual tradingcondition.

[0005] By the way, individual trading conditions determined between auser and a dealer include different prices for individual commodities,etc., in accordance with a payment site condition, a delivery datecondition, a traded quantity, etc., depending on a sales policy of eachdealer, characters of individual customers, etc.; and if the individualtrading conditions are known to a maker or rival dealers, the dealercannot conduct independent business activities as a dealer.

[0006] However, in the conventional distribution aiding system, theindividual trading conditions determined between each dealer and a userare registered in the distribution aiding server administrated by themaker; thus, there has been a problem that the individual tradingconditions are known to the maker. Additionally, regarding theconventional distribution aiding system, there has been a problem thatcommodities other than commodities (commodity codes) registeredbeforehand by the maker cannot be sold.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0007] A general object of the present invention is to eliminate theabove-mentioned problems, and a more specific object of the presentinvention is to provide a distribution aiding method, a distributionaiding server, a recording medium, a distribution aiding program, and adealer terminal capable of selling articles without individual tradingconditions being known to a maker, other users or other dealers.

[0008] In order to achieve this object, the present invention, which isa distribution aiding method for conducting a sale of an article betweena user using a user terminal and a dealer using a dealer terminal, wherethe foregoing user terminal and the foregoing dealer terminal areconnected via a network, is arranged to comprise an article search stepin which the user connects the foregoing user terminal via the foregoingnetwork and searches or selects a necessary article, an orderinformation registration step in which the foregoing user registersorder information according to the foregoing selected article, anorder-acceptance condition registration step in which the dealer incharge of the foregoing user connects the foregoing dealer terminal viathe foregoing network and registers order-acceptance conditioninformation to be added to the foregoing order information, and anorder-acceptance condition notification step in which the foregoing useris notified of the foregoing order-acceptance condition information.

[0009] Besides, the distribution aiding method is realized by adistribution aiding server, for example, which performs processescorresponding to the above-mentioned article search step, the orderinformation registration step, the order-acceptance conditionregistration step, and the order-acceptance condition notification step.This distribution aiding server is connected to the user terminal andthe dealer terminal via the network, and supports the sale of articlesconducted between the user and the dealer.

[0010] In this distribution aiding method, the dealer connects thedealer terminal to the distribution aiding server, for example, via theforegoing network, and adds the order-acceptance condition informationcorresponding to a price, a delivery date and so forth to the orderinformation from the user. That is, the order-acceptance conditioninformation is not registered in the distribution aiding server, etc.;thus, a trade can be conducted without the order-acceptance conditioninformation determined by the dealer for each user being known to amaker, other users or dealers.

[0011] Additionally, the present invention may be so arranged that theforegoing order-acceptance condition registration step comprises anorder information reception step in which the foregoing dealer connectsthe foregoing dealer terminal via the foregoing network and receives theorder information registered by the foregoing user, and theorder-acceptance condition registration step in which theorder-acceptance condition information is added to the foregoing orderinformation, and the foregoing dealer connects the foregoing dealerterminal via the foregoing network and registers the order informationto which the foregoing order-acceptance condition information is added.

[0012] In this distribution aiding method, the dealer connects thedealer terminal to the distribution aiding server, for example, via theforegoing network, and receives the order information registered by theuser. Then, the order-acceptance condition information corresponding toa price, a delivery date and so forth can be added to the received orderinformation, and the order information to which the order-acceptancecondition information is added can be registered again in thedistribution aiding server, etc. Thus, the order-acceptance conditioninformation is not registered in the distribution aiding server, etc.;accordingly, a trade can be conducted without the order-acceptancecondition information determined by the dealer for each user being knownto a maker, other users or dealers. That is, each dealer can carry outits own sales policy while participating in one distribution aidingsystem.

[0013] Additionally, the present invention may be so arranged that theforegoing order information registration step is a step of registeringthe foregoing order information after an approval of a manager isobtained, when the foregoing user is a user who cannot register theforegoing order information without obtaining the foregoing approval ofthe foregoing manager.

[0014] According to this distribution aiding method, even when anorganization form has subdivided role powers for ordering, application,approval and so forth, processes of ordering, application, approval andso forth in accordance with the organization form become possible.

[0015] Additionally, the present invention may be arranged to furthercomprise an order-reception information notification step of creatingorder-reception information according to the order informationregistered by the foregoing user, and notifying the foregoing user ofthe foregoing order-reception information.

[0016] In this distribution aiding method, the order-receptioninformation can be created according to the order information registeredby the user, and the order-reception information can be communicated tothe user, as occasion demands. Accordingly, the user can use thecommunicated order-reception information in a report, etc.

[0017] Additionally, the present invention may be arranged to furthercomprise an article order step of referring to stock information of thedealer in charge of the foregoing user, and placing an order with amaker for the article included in the foregoing order informationaccording to stock status of the article.

[0018] According to this distribution aiding method, the stockinformation of the dealer can be referred to so that, when the stock ofthe article included in the order information runs short, the articlescan be automatically ordered to the maker.

[0019] Additionally, the present invention may be arranged to furthercomprise an authentication step of performing an authentication of theuser or the dealer connecting the user terminal or the dealer terminalvia the foregoing network, and a menu screen display step of displayinga menu screen on the foregoing user terminal or the foregoing dealerterminal in accordance with a result of the foregoing authentication.

[0020] In this distribution aiding method, when the user connects viathe network, a screen indicating the connection to the dealer in chargeof (making a contract beforehand with) the user is displayed accordingto the authentication result. Besides, when the dealer connects via thenetwork, a menu screen in accordance with the authentication result canbe displayed.

[0021] Additionally, the present invention may be arranged to furthercomprise a free order information registration step in which theforegoing user connects the foregoing user terminal and registers orderinformation with respect to an article which is unregistered.

[0022] According to this distribution aiding method, it becomes possibleto register order information with respect to an article not registeredin the distribution aiding server, for example. Accordingly, the usercan place an order with the dealer for a reagent not yet registered inthe distribution aiding server, or for an article which may not beregistered in the distribution aiding server.

[0023] Additionally, the present invention may be arranged to furthercomprise a set registration step in which several types of articles tobe ordered at one time and order quantities of the foregoing articlesare registered as a set, and a set order information registration stepin which the foregoing user connects the foregoing user terminal andregisters order information according to the foregoing set.

[0024] According to this distribution aiding method, the user canregister several types of reagents frequently purchased together andquantities of the reagents as a set, for example. Accordingly, the usercan easily place an order with the dealer for desired reagents byselecting the reagents grouped beforehand into the set. Besides, severaltypes of articles frequently ordered to the dealer at one time and orderquantities of the articles can also be registered as a set.

[0025] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention, which is a distribution aiding server for conductinga sale of an article between a user using a user terminal and a dealerusing a dealer terminal, where the foregoing user terminal and theforegoing dealer terminal are connected to the foregoing distributionaiding server via a network, is arranged to comprise an article searchpart for the user to connect the foregoing user terminal and search orselect a necessary article, an order information registration part forthe foregoing user to register order information according to theforegoing selected article, an order-acceptance condition registrationpart for the dealer in charge of the foregoing user to connect theforegoing dealer terminal and register order-acceptance conditioninformation to be added to the foregoing order information, and anorder-acceptance condition notification part for notifying the foregoinguser of the foregoing order-acceptance condition information.

[0026] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention, which is a distribution aiding method for conductinga sale of an article by using a user terminal, a dealer terminal, and adistribution aiding server connected to the foregoing user terminal andthe foregoing dealer terminal via a network, is arranged to comprise astep in which the user connects the foregoing user terminal to theforegoing distribution aiding server via the foregoing network andsearches or selects a necessary article, a step in which the foregoinguser connects the foregoing user terminal to the foregoing distributionaiding server via the foregoing network and registers order informationaccording to the foregoing selected article, a step in which the dealerin charge of the foregoing user connects the foregoing dealer terminalto the foregoing distribution aiding server via the foregoing networkand adds order-acceptance condition information to the foregoing orderinformation, and a step in which the foregoing user is notified of theforegoing order-acceptance condition information.

[0027] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention, which is a computer readable recording medium storinga program for conducting a sale of an article between a user using auser terminal and a dealer using a dealer terminal, where the foregoinguser terminal and the foregoing dealer terminal are connected via anetwork, is arranged to store a program including an article search partfor the user to connect the foregoing user terminal and to search orselect a necessary article, an order information registration part forthe foregoing user to register order information according to theforegoing selected article, an order-acceptance condition registrationpart for the dealer in charge of the foregoing user to connect theforegoing dealer terminal and register order-acceptance conditioninformation to be added to the foregoing order information, and anorder-acceptance condition notification part for notifying the foregoinguser of the foregoing order-acceptance condition information.

[0028] By using the above-mentioned recording medium storing thedistribution aiding program, the above-mentioned object can be achieved.Besides, various types of recording media can be used as the recordingmedium storing the distribution aiding program, which include arecording medium storing information optically, electrically ormagnetically, such as a floppy disk, or a magneto-optical disk (MO) aswell as a CD-ROM, and a semiconductor memory storing informationelectrically, such as a ROM or a flash memory.

[0029] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention, which is a distribution aiding method for a dealerfor conducting a sale of an article to a user using a user terminal,where the foregoing user terminal and a distribution aiding server areconnected via a network, is arranged to comprise an order informationsearch step in which the dealer connects a dealer terminal to theforegoing distribution aiding server via the foregoing network andsearches order information registered by the user of whom the dealer isin charge from among order information registered in the foregoingdistribution aiding server, and an order-acceptance condition additionstep in which order-acceptance condition information is added to theforegoing searched order information.

[0030] Additionally, the present invention may be so arranged that theforegoing order-acceptance condition addition step comprises an orderinformation reception step of connecting to the foregoing distributionaiding server and receiving the foregoing searched order information,and an order-acceptance condition registration step of adding theorder-acceptance condition information to the foregoing orderinformation, and connecting to the foregoing distribution aiding serverand registering the order information to which the foregoingorder-acceptance condition information is added.

[0031] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention may be a distribution aiding program for causing acomputer to perform an article search procedure in which a user connectsa user terminal to a distribution aiding server via a network andsearches or selects a necessary article, an order informationregistration procedure in which the foregoing user registers orderinformation according to the foregoing selected article, anorder-acceptance condition registration procedure in which a dealer incharge of the foregoing user connects a dealer terminal to the foregoingdistribution aiding server via the foregoing network and registersorder-acceptance condition information to be added to the foregoingorder information, and an order-acceptance condition notificationprocedure in which the foregoing user is notified of the foregoingorder-acceptance condition information.

[0032] Additionally, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, thepresent invention, which is a dealer terminal for conducting a sale ofan article to a user using a user terminal, where the foregoing userterminal and a distribution aiding server are connected to the foregoingdealer terminal via a network, is arranged to comprise an orderinformation search part in which the foregoing dealer terminal isconnected to the foregoing distribution aiding server via the foregoingnetwork and order information registered by the user of whom a dealerusing the dealer terminal is in charge is searched from among orderinformation registered in the foregoing distribution aiding server, andan order-acceptance condition adding part for adding order-acceptancecondition information to the foregoing searched order information.

[0033] Additionally, the foregoing order-acceptance condition addingpart may be arranged to comprise an order information receiving part inwhich the foregoing dealer terminal is connected to the foregoingdistribution aiding server and the foregoing searched order informationis received, and an order-acceptance condition registering part in whichthe order-acceptance condition information is added to the foregoingorder information, and the dealer terminal is connected to the foregoingdistribution aiding server and then the order information, to which theforegoing order-acceptance condition information is added, isregistered.

[0034] By using the above-mentioned recording medium storing thedistribution aiding program, the above-mentioned object can be achieved.Besides, various types of recording media can be used as the recordingmedium storing the distribution aiding program, which include arecording medium storing information optically, electrically ormagnetically, such as a floppy disk, or a magneto-optical disk (MO) aswell as a CD-ROM, and a semiconductor memory storing informationelectrically, such as a ROM or a flash memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from reading the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

[0036]FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment of adistribution aiding system according to the present invention.

[0037]FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of a computersystem realizing a distribution aiding server according to the presentinvention.

[0038]FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example for explaining anorder-accepting/placing process of the distribution aiding systemaccording to the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example for explaining functions of thedistribution aiding system according to the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of a customermaster.

[0041]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the distribution aidingsystem according to the present invention.

[0042]FIG. 7 is a screen diagram of an example of a top menu screen.

[0043]FIG. 8 is a screen diagram of an example of a user menu screen.

[0044]FIG. 9 is a screen diagram of an example of a dealer menu screen.

[0045]FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of an example of an application usermenu screen.

[0046]FIG. 11 is a screen diagram of an example of an approval user menuscreen.

[0047]FIG. 12 is a screen diagram of an example of a delivery-dateanswer status screen.

[0048]FIG. 13 is a screen diagram of an example of a delivery-dateanswer particulars screen.

[0049]FIG. 14 is a screen diagram of an example of an estimation answerlist screen.

[0050]FIG. 15 is a screen diagram of an example of an estimation answerparticulars screen.

[0051]FIG. 16 is a screen diagram of an example of a free order screen.

[0052]FIG. 17 is a screen diagram of an example of a set order screen.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0053] Hereinbelow, a description will be given, with reference to thedrawings, of an embodiment according to the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, the description will be made on a distributionaiding system utilizing a distribution aiding method for sellingreagents; however, articles (commodities) are not limited thereto.

[0054]FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of one embodiment of adistribution aiding system 1 according to the present invention. In thedistribution aiding system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a distribution aidingserver 2, a host server 3, dealer terminals 4 a to 4 m, and userterminals 5 a to 5 n are connected via a network 6, such as theInternet.

[0055] The user terminals 5 a to 5 n are connected to the distributionaiding server 2 via the network 6 by being operated by users. The usersinclude users to whom authentication information, such as an ID and apassword, is already issued so as to be qualified to order reagents, andgeneral users (one-shot-customer users) to whom the authenticationinformation is not issued, and who are qualified only to estimatereagents.

[0056] The dealer terminals 4 a to 4 m are connected to the distributionaiding server 2 via the network 6 by being operated by dealers. Thedealers are, for example, general retail stores or special agentsmediating between users and makers. The host server 3 performsprocesses, such as a stock management and a post-order process, whichare not performed by the hereinafter-described distribution aidingserver 2. The distribution aiding server 2 is connected to the dealerterminals 4 a to 4 m and the user terminals 5 a to 5 n via the network6.

[0057] The distribution aiding server 2 performs an authentication uponconnecting to the dealer terminals 4 a to 4 m or the user terminals 5 ato 5 n via the network 6, and performs a distribution aiding process asdescribed hereinafter according to an authentication result thereof.

[0058]FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of one embodiment of acomputer system realizing the distribution aiding server 2. In FIG. 2,this computer system comprises an input device 10, a display device 11,a drive device 12, a recording medium 13, an auxiliary storage device14, a memory device 15, a processing device 16, an interface device 17,and a database (hereinbelow referred to as DB) 18, which are connectedwith one another by a bus B.

[0059] The input device 10 comprises a keyboard, a mouse and so forthwhich are operated by a user of the computer system, and is used forinputting various operation signals to the computer system. The displaydevice 11 displays various windows, data and so forth necessary foroperating the computer system. The interface device 17 is an interfaceused for connecting the computer system to the network 6, and iscomposed of a modem, etc, for example. The DB 18 stores data required inthe distribution aiding server 2.

[0060] A distribution aiding program concerning the distribution aidingsystem is provided by the recording medium 13, such as a CD-ROM. Therecording medium 13 storing the distribution aiding program is set inthe drive device 12, and the program is installed from the recordingmedium 13 via the drive device 12 into the auxiliary storage device 14.

[0061] The auxiliary storage device 14 stores the installed distributionaiding program, and also stores necessary files, data and so forth. Thememory device 15 reads and stores the distribution aiding program fromthe auxiliary storage device 14 when the computer system is started. Theprocessing device 16 performs processes concerning the distributionaiding system according to the distribution aiding program read andstored by the memory device 15.

[0062] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 3, of aprocedure of an order-accepting/placing process using the distributionaiding system according to the present invention, for the purpose offacilitating an understanding of the distribution aiding systemaccording to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an examplefor explaining the order-accepting/placing process of the distributionaiding system according to the present invention.

[0063] A user using the distribution aiding system according to thepresent invention connects the user terminal 5 to the distributionaiding server 2 via-the network 6, such as the Internet. In step S1 inFIG. 3, the user selects a desired reagent from a commodity masterincluded in the distribution aiding server 2. The selection of thedesired reagent can be performed by using a commodity search functionowned by the distribution aiding server 2. Additionally, the selectionof the reagent can be also performed directly by the user without usingthe commodity search function. Further, the selection of the reagent canbe also performed by the user after narrowing down reagents by using thecommodity search function. Then, in step S2, the user orders the desiredreagent or requests an estimation of the desired reagent. Orderinformation or estimation request information from the user is stored inthe distribution aiding server 2.

[0064] A dealer using the distribution aiding system according to thepresent invention connects the dealer terminal 4 to the distributionaiding server 2 via the network 6. In step S3 in FIG. 3, the dealerdownloads the order information or the estimation request informationfrom the user to the dealer terminal 4, and adds order-acceptancecondition information, such as an estimation and a delivery date; and instep S4, the dealer uploads the order information or the estimationrequest information from the user to which information theorder-acceptance condition information is added. Besides, the dealeralso can confirm the order information or the estimation requestinformation from the user stored in the distribution aiding server 2,and add the order-acceptance condition information, such as anestimation and a delivery date, to the order information or theestimation request information, as occasion demands.

[0065] In step S5, the distribution aiding server 2 can inform the userterminal 5 of the order-acceptance condition information, such as anestimation and a delivery date, for the order information or theestimation request information from the user, by using electronic mail,etc., for example. Besides, the distribution aiding server 2 can alsocreate order-reception information corresponding to the orderinformation registered by the user, and notify the user of theorder-reception information, as occasion demands. This order-receptioninformation may include information regarding the reagent included inthe order information registered by the user.

[0066] Additionally, the distribution aiding system according to thepresent invention may further include article ordering means forreferring to stock information of the dealer in charge of the user, andplacing an order with a maker for articles in stock shortage, forexample when the stock runs short, according to stock status of thearticle included in the order information.

[0067] In the distribution aiding system as above, the stock informationof the dealer can be referred to so that, when the stock of the articleincluded in the order information runs short, the articles can beautomatically ordered to the maker. Additionally, the distributionaiding system according to the present invention may further includemeans for ascertaining a maker stock.

[0068] In step S6, when the reagent included in the order informationfrom the user is in stock shortage, the dealer submits an order for thereagent to a maker terminal 7. When the dealer places the order for thereagent with the maker in step S6, the maker delivers the reagent to thedealer in step S7. In step S8, the dealer delivers to the user thereagent included in the order information from the user.

[0069] Besides, the distribution aiding server 2 can also issue a billto the user according to the order-acceptance condition information,such as an estimation and a delivery date, added to the orderinformation by the dealer. Accordingly, the order-accepting/placingprocess for a reagent becomes possible without registering theorder-acceptance condition information, such as a price and a deliverydate, determined by the dealer for each user, beforehand in thedistribution aiding server 2.

[0070] To enable the above-described order-accepting/placing process,the distribution aiding system 1 according to the present invention hasvarious functions. Next, a description will be given, with reference toFIG. 4, of functions of the distribution aiding system 1 according tothe present invention. FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an example forexplaining the functions of the distribution aiding system 1 accordingto the present invention. It is noted that the distribution aidingsystem 1 shown in FIG. 4 includes only parts necessary for explainingthe functions depicted, and unnecessary parts are partially omitted fromthe figure.

[0071] The distribution aiding system 1 includes the user terminals 5 ato 5 n, the dealer terminal 4 a, and the distribution aiding server 2connected to the user terminals 5 a to 5 n and the dealer terminal 4 avia the network 6, an access control unit 22 and a firewall 23. Theusers operating the user terminals 5 a to 5 n are users for whom thedealer operating the dealer terminal 4 a is in charge of an orderacceptance and a delivery of a reagent. The dealer terminal 4 a includesa customer master 20 for managing information of the users for whom thedealer operating the dealer terminal 4 a is in charge of the orderacceptance and the delivery of a reagent, and a commodity master 21 inwhich a price of a reagent and so forth are determined for each user.

[0072] The access control unit 22 authenticates the users and thedealers connecting to the distribution aiding server 2 according to theauthentication information, such as a user TD and a password. Thefirewall 23 protects the distribution aiding server 2 and so forth froman illegal entry. The distribution aiding server 2 comprises a customermanagement unit 30, an estimating function unit 31, a dealerrepresentative unit 32, a commodity search unit 33, an order-acceptanceprocessing unit 34, an electronic mail unit 35, a maker order-acceptanceunit 36, a one-shot-customer management unit 37, a commodity master 40,a customer master 41, an order-acceptance information master 42, ananswer information master 43, an electronic mail master 44, an accesscontrol master 45, a one-shot-customer user master 46, a makerorder-acceptance master 47, and a dealer information master 48.

[0073] The customer management unit 30 stores and manages access logs ofusers or dealers using the distribution aiding server 2, in the accesscontrol master 45. The estimating function unit 31 provides anestimating function for the one-shot-customer users to whom theauthentication information is not issued whereby the general users arequalified only to estimate reagents. The estimating function unit 31stores and manages information of the one-shot-customer users providedwith the estimating function, in the one-shot-customer user master 46.

[0074] The dealer representative unit 32 ascertains a stock of reagentsincluded in order information from a user, and places an order with amaker for reagents in stock shortage. Besides, the dealer representativeunit 32 stores and manages dealer information, such as a name, anaddress and a telephone number of a dealer, in the dealer informationmaster 48. Additionally, the dealer representative unit 32 stores andmanages users for whom each dealer is in charge of an order acceptanceand a delivery, in the customer master 41.

[0075]FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of an example of the customermaster 41. It is noted that the customer master 41 shown in FIG. 5includes only extracted parts necessary for the following explanation,and does not include all of items. The customer master 41 includes auser ID, a password, a user level, a company name, a full name, atelephone number, a facsimile number, an E-mail address, a personalcode, a dealer code, a destination BOX-ID, a reference BOX-ID, anorganization form flag, a material code, a field, and so forth.

[0076] Here, the user level is an item used for distinguishing among auser, a dealer and a system administrator. The personal code is a codeassigned to a user by each dealer. The dealer code is an item used fordistinguishing a dealer in charge of the user. Thus, the customer master41 stores a dealer and a user for whom the dealer is in charge of anorder acceptance and a delivery with the dealer and the user beingrelated.

[0077] The commodity search unit 33 provides the commodity searchfunction for users and one-shot-customer users. The commodity searchunit 33 retrieves information, such as a general price, a delivery dateand properties, of a reagent desired by a user, from commodityinformation stored in the commodity master 40, and provides theinformation to the user. Besides, for users (not for one-shot-customerusers), the information retrieved and provided for the user by thecommodity search unit 33 may include an actual selling price of thereagent desired by the user, the actual selling price being determinedfor the present user by the dealer in charge of the present user. Whendisclosing this actual selling price, it is arranged that the actualselling price be disclosed only to the present user, and not disclosedto other users or other makers.

[0078] The order-acceptance processing unit 34 stores and manages theorder information from a user in the order-acceptance information master42. Additionally, the order-acceptance processing unit 34 stores andmanages the order-acceptance condition information, such as an estimatedprice and a delivery date, with respect to the order information from auser in the answer information master 43.

[0079] When the order-acceptance condition information is stored in theanswer information master 43, the electronic mail unit 35 can transmitthe order-acceptance condition information to the user placing the ordercorresponding to the order-acceptance condition information, accordingto electronic mail information stored in the electronic mail master 44.Besides, by storing information, such as a specialty field, of each userin the electronic mail master 44, the electronic mail unit 35 cantransmit not only the order-acceptance condition information to theuser, but also can transmit information beneficial for the user byelectronic mail.

[0080] The maker order-acceptance unit 36 stores and manages informationof a reagent for which a maker accepts an order, in the makerorder-acceptance master 47. The one-shot-customer management unit 30stores and manages access logs of one-shot-customer users using thedistribution aiding server 2, in the access control master 45.

[0081] Users and dealers can perform the order-accepting/placing processfor a reagent by using the various functions of the distribution aidingsystem 1 as described above. For example, it is conceivable that a useror a dealer uses the distribution aiding system according to the presentinvention in a manner that the user or the dealer logs in from the userterminals 5 a to 5 n or the dealer terminal 4 a via the network 6, theaccess control unit 22 and the firewall 23 to the distribution aidingserver 2.

[0082] Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 6, of aprocess of the distribution aiding system according to the presentinvention. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of one embodiment of thedistribution aiding system according to the present invention. First,when a one-shot-customer user, a user or a dealer connects to thedistribution aiding server 2 by using the user terminals 5 a to 5 n orthe dealer terminal 4 a, a top menu screen 100 as shown in FIG. 7 isdisplayed on a display device of the user terminals 5 a to 5 n or thedealer terminal 4 a.

[0083] The top menu screen 100 includes a keyword search area 101 forproviding the commodity search function, and a member login area 107 forinputting a user ID and a password. In step S10 in FIG. 6, thedistribution aiding server 2 judges whether or not the user who has readout the top menu screen 100 is a general user (a one-shot-customer user)not granted a user ID and a password.

[0084] When the user ID and the password issued by the distributionaiding server 2 are not input in the member login area 107 (YES in S10),the user is judged to be a general user, proceeding to step S11. In stepS11, the distribution aiding server 2 provides the user judged to be ageneral user with processes for generals, such as various searchfunctions of the top menu screen 100. Proceeding from step S11 to stepS12, the distribution aiding server 2 judges whether or not the user IDand the password are input in the member login area 107.

[0085] When the user ID and the password are not input in the memberlogin area 107 (NO in S12), the process is ended. Besides, it is alsoconceivable that, when the user ID and the password are not input in themember login area 107 in S12, the process proceeds to step S11. When theuser ID and the password are input in the member login area 107 (YES inS12), the distribution aiding server 2 proceeds to step S10.

[0086] When the user ID and the password issued by the distributionaiding server 2 are input in the member login area 107 (NO in S10), thedistribution aiding server 2 judges that the user who has read out thetop menu screen 100 is not a general user, and proceeds to step S13.

[0087] In step S13, the distribution aiding server 2 confirms the userID and the password input in the member login area 107, and judgeswhether or not the user who has read out the top menu screen 100 is auser. When judging that the user who has read out the top menu screen100 is a user (YES in S13), the distribution aiding server 2 proceeds tostep S14, and causes a user menu screen 110 as shown in FIG. 8 to bedisplayed on the display device of the user terminal 5 a, for example.The user menu screen 110 includes an “•order/estimation request” area, a“•history information” area and a “•maintenance” area. Besides,processes for users performed in the user menu screen 110 are describedhereinafter.

[0088] Proceeding from step S14 to step S15, the distribution aidingserver 2 provides the user judged to be a user with the processes forusers, such as an order/estimation request function of the user menuscreen 110. The user can use a desired process by selecting the desiredprocess from the user menu screen 110.

[0089] On the other hand, when judging that the user who has read outthe top menu screen 100 is not a user (NO in S13), the distributionaiding server 2 proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the distributionaiding server 2 confirms the user ID and the password input in themember login area 107, and judges whether or not the user who has readout the top menu screen 100 is a dealer.

[0090] When judging that the user who has read out the top menu screen100 is a dealer (YES in S16), the distribution aiding server 2 proceedsto step S17, and causes a dealer menu screen 120 as shown in FIG. 9 tobe displayed on the display device of the dealer terminal 4 a, forexample.

[0091] The dealer menu screen 120 includes a “•delivery date answer”area, an “•estimation answer” area, a “•stock reference” area, an“•order/estimation request” area, a “•history information” area, and a“•maintenance” area. Besides, processes for dealers performed in thedealer menu screen 120 are described hereinafter.

[0092] On the other hand, when judging that the user who has read outthe top menu screen 100 is not a dealer (NO in S16), the distributionaiding server 2 proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the distributionaiding server 2 judges that the user who has read out the top menuscreen 100 is a system administrator, and causes a system administratormenu screen to be displayed on a display device of a systemadministrator terminal. Then, proceeding from step S19 to step S20, thesystem administrator can perform various maintenances by using thesystem administrator menu.

[0093] Next, a further detailed description will be given of theprocesses for generals (S11), the processes for users (S15) and theprocesses for dealers (S18) shown in FIG. 6. The processes for generalsprovide the various search functions and information service functionsof the top menu screen 100 for a general user (a one-shot-customer user)not yet granted a user ID and a password.

[0094] For example, a general user can use a full-text search functionby inputting a keyword regarding a desired reagent in a keyword area 102of the keyword search area 101, and clicking a search button 103.Additionally, search functions other than the full-text search functioncan be used by clicking a field search button 104, a range search button105 and a molecular-formula search button 106. Besides, a categorysearch function can be used by utilizing a category search area 108 ofthe top menu screen 100. A plurality of search functions can be used incombination.

[0095] Additionally, the distribution aiding server 2 can provide ageneral user with the estimating function. Besides, when it is notdetermined which dealer is in charge of the general user, it isconceivable that an answer of the estimation can be made according to arecommended retail price of a reagent stored in the commodity master 40.

[0096] The processes for users provide an order/estimation requestfunction, a history information function and a maintenance function ofthe user menu screen 110 for a user granted a user ID and a password.Besides, in a case of an organization form with subdivided role powersfor ordering, application, approval and so forth, it is conceivable thatan order application of a reagent and an order approval thereof areperformed separately. Thereupon, the distribution aiding server 2according to the present invention provides an application user menuscreen 130 as shown in FIG. 10 for performing the order application of areagent, and an approval user menu screen 140 as shown in FIG. 11 forperforming the order approval of a reagent.

[0097] The above-mentioned user, the application user and the approvaluser can be distinguished by using a user ID, a password, a user level,an organization code and so forth of the customer master. Besides, uponissuing a user ID, etc., it is confirmed beforehand that a person isqualified to purchase a legally controlled object (such as a poisonousmaterial, when the commodity is a reagent, for example).

[0098] For example, a user can select and use a search order function, adirect order function, a free order function or a set order functionfrom the “•order/estimation request” area in the user menu screen 110.The search order function is an ordering method performed by selecting adesired reagent from a list of search results obtained by using thefull-text search function, etc. The direct order function is an orderingmethod performed by directly designating a maker name, a commodity code,a volume, a quantity and so forth of a reagent desired by the user.

[0099] The free order function is an ordering method performed bydesignating a maker name, a commodity name, a grade, a volume, aquantity and so forth of a reagent not appearing in a catalogue, etc.The free order function is realized by inputting the maker name, thecommodity name, the grade, the volume, the quantity and so forth in afree order screen 190 as shown in FIG. 16. For example, the commodityname is inputted in a commodity name area 191 of the free order screen190.

[0100] The set order function is an ordering method in which a usergroups several types of reagents frequently purchased together into aset, and designates the reagents grouped into the set. The set orderfunction is realized by selecting one set from sets No. 1 to No. 5 in aset order screen 200 as shown in FIG. 17, the sets No. 1 to No. 5 beingregistered beforehand by the user. For example, the set order screen 200shown in FIG. 17 displays a “chromato-package” set registered in the setNo. 1. The user can select all of reagents registered in the“chromato-package” set, or can select some of those reagents.

[0101] In addition, a user can select and use an order history functionor an estimation request history function of the “•history information”area in the user menu screen 110. The order history function is afunction for referring to an order history in the past. The estimationrequest history function is a function for referring to an estimationrequest history in the past. Besides, an order request can be performedby selecting a desired reagent from the order history in the past andthe estimation request history in the past referred to by using theorder history function and the estimation request history function.

[0102] In addition, a user can select and use a set order maintenancefunction or a user registration information function of the“•maintenance” area in the user menu screen 110. The set ordermaintenance function is a function for providing a setting for reagentsgrouped into a set used by the above-mentioned set order function. Theuser registration information function is a function for editing userinformation registered in the distribution aiding server.

[0103] On the other hand, the application user menu screen 130 issimilar to the user menu screen except the “•order/estimation request”area. Since an application user cannot formally place an order withoutan approval of an approval user (a manager), the “•order/estimationrequest” area includes a search application function, a directapplication function, a free application function and a set applicationfunction.

[0104] Besides, since the application user menu screen 130 is similar tothe user menu screen 110 except that the application user does notformally place an order without an approval of the approval user, otherdescriptions are omitted.

[0105] Additionally, the approval user menu screen 140 includes an“•approval process” area, a “•delivery status” area, an“•order/estimation request” area, a “•history information” area and a“•maintenance” area. An approval user can refer to a list of orderapplications performed by an application user by selecting an approvalprocess function of the “•approval process” area in the approval usermenu screen 140. The approval user examines order applications listed inthe list of order applications, and decides on approval or disapproval.Besides, an approved order application is changed to a formal order.Additionally, the approval user can approve a disapproved orderapplication after changing a content of the disapproved orderapplication.

[0106] An approval user can refer to a status of a delivery by selectinga delivery status function of the “•delivery status” area in theapproval user menu screen 140. Besides, the “•order/estimation request”area, the “•history information” area and the “•maintenance” area in theapproval user menu screen 140 are basically similar to the user menuscreen 110, but are different in a point that a “mass upload order”function is added in the “•order/estimation request” area; therefore, adescription will be given to only this point.

[0107] That is, the “mass upload order” function is a function usefulfor users, such as a material department of a company, frequentlyordering a large variety of commodities at regular intervals, and is afunction enabling an order by using an order-commodity list file createdbeforehand. This function may seem similar to the “set order” function;however, the “set order” function is provided for the convenience ofsmall-lot users normally ordering few types of commodities; thus, thetwo functions are different in this point.

[0108] The processes for dealers provide a dealer with a delivery dateanswer function, an estimation answer function, a stock referencefunction, an order/estimation request function, a history informationfunction, and a maintenance function, of the dealer menu screen 120. Forexample, a dealer can select and use the delivery date answer functionof the “•delivery date answer” area in the dealer menu screen 120. Whenthe dealer selects the delivery date answer function, a delivery-dateanswer status screen 150 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the displaydevice of the dealer terminal 4 a, for example.

[0109] When the dealer selects one item of order-acceptance information,in which a delivery date is answered, from the delivery-date answerstatus screen 150, a delivery-date answer particulars screen 160 asshown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display device of the dealerterminal 4 a. Then, the dealer can create delivery-date answerinformation for an order acceptance by inputting a quantity, a price anda delivery date of a commodity in item areas of “quantity”, “deliveryprice” and “delivery date” in the delivery-date answer particularsscreen 160. Besides, the delivery-date answer information can betransmitted automatically by the electronic mail unit 35 of thedistribution aiding server 2, for example.

[0110] A dealer can select and use the estimation answer function of the“•estimation answer” area in the dealer menu screen 120. When the dealerselects the estimation answer function, an estimation answer list screen170 as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the display device of the dealerterminal 4 a, for example. When the dealer selects one estimationrequest information from the estimation answer list screen 170, anestimation answer particulars screen 180 as shown in FIG. 15 isdisplayed on the display device of the dealer terminal 4 a.

[0111] Then, the dealer can create estimation answer information for theestimation request by inputting a quantity, a price and a delivery dateof a commodity in item areas of “quantity”, “delivery price” and“delivery date” in the estimation answer particulars screen 180.Besides, the estimation answer information can be transmittedautomatically by the electronic mail unit 35 of the distribution aidingserver 2, for example.

[0112] Further, a dealer can select and use the stock reference functionof the “•stock reference” area in the dealer menu screen 120. The dealeruses the stock reference function, whereby the dealer can perform astock reference to a maker.

[0113] As described above, in the distribution aiding system accordingto the present invention, an order-accepting/placing process for acommodity becomes possible without registering individual tradingconditions, such as a price and a delivery date of the commodity,determined individually between a user and a dealer, beforehand in thedistribution aiding server. Accordingly, the order-accepting/placingprocess for the commodity becomes possible without the individualtrading conditions being known to a maker, other users or other dealers.

[0114] The distribution aiding system according to the present inventionmay be arranged to cooperate with other Web-EDI (Electronic DataInterchange) systems. In this case, it may be arranged that the otherWeb-EDI systems can be used from the distribution aiding systemaccording to the present invention, or conversely, it may be arrangedthat the distribution aiding system according to the present inventioncan be used from the other Web-EDI systems.

[0115] The present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiment, and variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

1. A distribution aiding method for conducting a sale of an articlebetween a user using a user terminal and a dealer using a dealerterminal, where said user terminal and said dealer terminal areconnected via a network, the method comprising: an article search stepin which the user connects said user terminal via said network andsearches or selects a necessary article; an order informationregistration step in which said user registers order informationaccording to said selected article; an order-acceptance conditionregistration step in which the dealer in charge of said user connectssaid dealer terminal via said network and registers order-acceptancecondition information to be added to said order information; and anorder-acceptance condition notification step in which said user isnotified of said order-acceptance condition information.
 2. Thedistribution aiding method as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidorder-acceptance condition registration step comprises: an orderinformation reception step in which said dealer connects said dealerterminal via said network and receives the order information registeredby said user; and the order-acceptance condition registration step inwhich the order-acceptance condition information is added to said orderinformation, and said dealer connects said dealer terminal via saidnetwork and registers the order information to which saidorder-acceptance condition information is added.
 3. The distributionaiding method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said order informationregistration step is a step of registering said order information afteran approval of a manager is obtained in a case where said user is a userwho cannot register said order information without obtaining saidapproval of said manager.
 4. The distribution aiding method as claimedin claim 1, further comprising an order-reception informationnotification step of creating order-reception information according tothe order information registered by said user, and notifying said userof said order-reception information.
 5. The distribution aiding methodas claimed in claim 1, further comprising an article order step ofreferring to stock information of the dealer in charge of said user, andplacing an order with a maker for the article included in said orderinformation according to stock status of the article.
 6. Thedistribution aiding method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: anauthentication step of performing an authentication of the user or thedealer connecting the user terminal or the dealer terminal via saidnetwork; and a menu screen display step of displaying a menu screen onsaid user terminal or said dealer terminal in accordance with a resultof said authentication.
 7. The distribution aiding method as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a free order information registration stepin which said user connects said user terminal and registers orderinformation with respect to an article which is unregistered.
 8. Thedistribution aiding method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: aset registration step in which several types of articles to be orderedat one time and order quantities of said articles are registered as aset; and a set order information registration step in which said userconnects said user terminal and registers order information according tosaid set.
 9. A distribution aiding server for conducting a sale of anarticle between a user using a user terminal and a dealer using a dealerterminal, where said user terminal and said dealer terminal areconnected to said distribution aiding server via a network, the servercomprising: an article search part for the user to connect said userterminal and search or select a necessary article; an order informationregistration part for said user to register order information accordingto said selected article; an order-acceptance condition registrationpart for the dealer in charge of said user to connect said dealerterminal and register order-acceptance condition information to be addedto said order information; and an order-acceptance conditionnotification part for notifying said user of said order-acceptancecondition information.
 10. A distribution aiding method for conducting asale of an article by using a user terminal, a dealer terminal, and adistribution aiding server connected to said user terminal and saiddealer terminal via a network, the method comprising: a step in whichthe user connects said user terminal to said distribution aiding serverand searches or selects a necessary article; a step in which said userconnects said user terminal to said distribution aiding server andregisters order information according to said selected article; a stepin which the dealer in charge of said user connects said dealer terminalto said distribution aiding server and adds order-acceptance conditioninformation to said order information; and a step in which said user isnotified of said order-acceptance condition information.
 11. A computerreadable recording medium storing a program for conducting a sale of anarticle between a user using a user terminal and a dealer using a dealerterminal, where said user terminal and said dealer terminal areconnected via a network, the medium storing a program including: anarticle search part for the user to connect said user terminal and tosearch or select a necessary article; an order information registrationpart for said user to register order information according to saidselected article; an order-acceptance condition registration part forthe dealer in charge of said user to connect said dealer terminal andregister order-acceptance condition information to be added to saidorder information; and an order-acceptance condition notification partfor notifying said user of said order-acceptance condition information.12. A distribution aiding method for a dealer for conducting a sale ofan article to a user using a user terminal, where said user terminal anda distribution aiding server are connected via a network, the methodcomprising: an order information search step in which the dealerconnects a dealer terminal to said distribution aiding server via saidnetwork and searches order information registered by the user of whomthe dealer is in charge from among order information registered in saiddistribution aiding server; and an order-acceptance condition additionstep in which order-acceptance condition information is added to saidsearched order information.
 13. The distribution aiding method asclaimed in claim 12, wherein said order-acceptance condition additionstep comprises: an order information reception step of connecting tosaid distribution aiding server and receiving said searched orderinformation; and an order-acceptance condition registration step ofadding the order-acceptance condition information to said orderinformation, and connecting to said distribution aiding server andregistering the order information to which said order-acceptancecondition information is added.
 14. A distribution aiding program forcausing a computer to perform: an article search procedure in which auser connects a user terminal to a distribution aiding server via anetwork and searches or selects a necessary article; an orderinformation registration procedure in which said user registers orderinformation according to said selected article; an order-acceptancecondition registration procedure in which a dealer in charge of saiduser connects a dealer terminal to said distribution aiding server viasaid network and registers order-acceptance condition information to beadded to said order information; and an order-acceptance conditionnotification procedure in which said user is notified of saidorder-acceptance condition information.
 15. A dealer terminal forconducting a sale of an article to a user using a user terminal, wheresaid user terminal and a distribution aiding server are connected tosaid dealer terminal via a network, the terminal comprising: an orderinformation search part in which said dealer terminal is connected tosaid distribution aiding server via said network and order informationregistered by the user of whom a dealer using the dealer terminal is incharge is searched from among order information registered in saiddistribution aiding server; and an order-acceptance condition addingpart for adding order-acceptance condition information to said searchedorder information.
 16. The dealer terminal as claimed in claim 15,wherein said order-acceptance condition adding part comprises: an orderinformation receiving part in which said dealer terminal is connected tosaid distribution aiding server and said searched order information isreceived; and an order-acceptance condition registering part in whichthe order-acceptance condition information is added to said orderinformation, and the dealer terminal is connected to said distributionaiding server and then the order information, to which saidorder-acceptance condition information is added, is registered.